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kangaroo grass are found in the best places on the banks <>t" water- 

 courses. On the best forest lands feed runs rather short towards the 

 end of the summer. The white gum Hats carry all through the 

 hottest weather a good growth of pin grass. This is a coarse grass 

 which is hardy enough to stand a long period without rain. It is a 

 good friend to the sheep owner at the most trying time of the year. 

 The inferior country also grows a number of shrubs and tussocks 

 which are very acceptable when the more succulent feed lias dis- 

 appeared." (19.) " What extent of arable land can be found in one 

 piece ?" " From 700 to 1000 acres, if the white gum country is 

 excepted. There are larger tracts of land growing this kind of 

 timber than any other. Formerly the settlers would only put the 

 plough in where the York, red gum, and manna trees stood, but now 

 that an enlarged scope of work has to be provided for owing to the 

 growing requirements of the colony, the white gum blocks are no 

 longer passed over. They have been found to be more fertile than 

 their early reputation gave them credit for, and with fertilization 

 such as is common in the south-western and eastern districts, they 

 are believed to be equal to be capable of amply recouping the cost 

 of clearing. It is in favour of the areas under notice that, in many 

 cases, they are closer to Katanning and Wagin Lake than the richer 

 red soils, so that what is saved in carting can be put to the purchase of 

 manures." (20.) " How is the country watered ?" " Not very well ; 

 the limited water supply is one of the disabilities of a great part of 

 the southern district. For the greater part of the year reliance 

 must be placed upon dams, wells and tanks. The situation of the 

 settler may be put in a few words. There is ample rainfall to provide 

 sufficient water, short of what would be demanded for irrigation 

 uses, if the rain is not allowed to run to waste. The first thing to 

 be done in going on to a block of land is to look for a ' soak' and 

 sink upon it. If there is no soak, a well must be sunk for house- 

 hold use, and a dam excavated for the watering of stock. This 

 should be done before the ground is fenced or a house built. A tent 

 will do for a time, but it is a great tax to have to cart water for 

 miles. Ringbarking ought not to be delayed in order to increase 

 the water supply. The killing of the trees will keep a soak going. 

 If there is no soak, one or more will probably appear when the trees 

 are not drawing upon the moisture in the ground." (21.) "What is 

 the cost of conserving water (a) wells, (6) dams, (c) tanks ?" " From 

 IDS. to 303. per foot for wells, according to whether rock is struck 

 or not ; lod. to is. 6d. per yard for excavating dams ; and tanks 2s. 

 per cubic yard. To make the difference between the formation of 

 a tank and a dam clear to non-Australian readers, it may be stated 

 that a dam is a shallow saucer-shaped reservoir about 3 feet deep, 

 while a tank is deep and square sided, like the soaking pits in a 

 tanner's yard. If rock has to be taken out in making a tank the 

 cost is from 33. to 53. per cubic yard, depending upon the hardness 

 of the strata passed through." (22.) " Is there ever a water difficulty 



